Several months ago I read a description of a recent study about this (though the way it described the design did make the apparent results somewhat compelling). If we assume there is some physiological addiction going on, this is clearly a case where cultural factors come into play. There have always seemed be that handful of people who were so tan that you wondered how they had any skin left. But recently I've noticed A LOT of students who are clearly tanning in some fashion (sun, tanning booth, spray on, or some combination). It seems to be in vogue at the moment not to just be a little tan, but REALLY tan. I find that students are generally unaware of the dangers of tanning booths especially. Most dermatologists will tell you that over the last decade or so we've come realize that tanning booths actually are dangerous not just in increasing the "less" dangerous forms of skin cancer, but also melanomas (INDEPENDENT of sun exposure).
<< Can one be addicted to tanning? From today's Inside Higher Ed: "More than 25 percent of university students surveyed exhibit symptoms of "tanning dependence," including symptoms similar to alcohol and drug addictions, according to an article in the new issue of the American Journal of Health Behavior. Those with "tanorexia" are more likely than other students to be thin and to smoke cigarettes, the study found. Forty percent of those studied had used tanning booths." Chris >> --- To make changes to your subscription contact: Bill Southerly ([EMAIL PROTECTED])
